Metal Detecting Old Homestead Sites
Former homesteads are the bread and butter of relic hunting. A family lived there, ate there, worked there, lost things there, and threw things away there — often for decades. The variety and concentration of finds at homestead sites make them among the most rewarding places to detect.
Finding Homestead Sites
Some are obvious — a cellar hole in the woods, a stone foundation in a field. Others have no visible trace above ground. Historical maps are essential for finding these invisible sites. Look for structures shown on old maps that don't exist today. County atlases from the mid-1800s often show individual houses with owner names, pinpointing exactly where families lived.
Working the Site
Start at the likely yard area in front of the house. This is where people spent time outdoors and where you'll find the highest concentration of personal items and coins. The dooryard (the area directly in front of the main entrance) is often the most productive few square meters of any homestead.
After the yard, work outward: the area between the house and any outbuildings (barn, workshop, privy), the path to the road or well, and along old fence lines. Cast iron fragments and heavy iron hardware tend to concentrate near the house and outbuildings.
What Homesteads Produce
Coins spanning the entire occupation period. Buttons from clothing. Buckles and fasteners. Household hardware. Tokens. Jewelry. Thimbles and sewing items. Children's toys. And, of course, lots of nails, scrap, and junk. The oldest finds tend to come from the deepest targets, so dig everything and note the depth.